Foot-rest.



Patented May l3, I902 L,- WOERNER, F001 REST.

(Application filed Sent. 11, 1 901.)

(No Model.)

uvvavron c Ludwig Waerner.

mo. E 8 a w W A TTOHNEYS Fries.

LUDlVIG \VOERNEB, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

YFOOIT-IRES'T.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,780, dated May 13, 1902. Application filed September 11,1901. Serial No. 74,998. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUDWIG WOERNER, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Rests, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improved footrest which combines with its utility as an article of furniture the novel representation of the appearance and action of a turtle, thus being a source of amusement in addition to its utility. Y

The object of the invention is to provide a foot-rest in the shape of a turtle of novel construction, useful, and ornamental, and, further, to provide the foot-rest with means for imparting motion to the legs, head, and tail of the turtle by compressing the back of the turtle under the pressure of the foot.

This invention consists of a foot-rest representing a turtle, comprising a compressible body, a base for supporting the same, leg, head, and tail members of the turtle arranged between the base and body, lazy-tongs connecting said members and actuated by an elliptical compression-spring contained in the body, so as to move the legs, head, and tail inwardly and outwardly in relation to the body.

The novel features of construction and combination of parts will be hereinafter more fully described, and specified in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the footrest. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the invention with the body removed and showing the base and members in a normal position.

tail of the turtle drawn in; and Fig. t is a transverse vertical sectional View on line 2 2, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the foot-rest, which consists of a body B, supported upon the base 0 and provided with the casters 1). The bodyB is made to represent a turtle and is covered with plush, leather, or other material, underlaid with can- Fig. 3 is. a similar view showing the legs, head, and

vas, suitably padded. The legs, head, and tail are made of similar materials. The back I) of the body B is shaped like a turtle-shell, and being made of flexible material is supported by spiral compression-springs 1), arranged between the supplemental base B and the flexible back I). (Shown in Fig. 4.)

The supplemental base B is provided with a transverse slot in which is positioned the elliptical compression-spring S, secured to the base 0 and the back I). The body B is supported upon the base 0 by the supports 0, arranged at the ends of the base and spaced apart to form the passages 0'. Between the base 0 and the supplemental base B the members a, representing the legs, head, and tail of the turtle, are arranged and adapted to move inwardly and outwardly through the opening 0 under the action of the lazytongs L.

The members aare connected with the lazytongs. The legs are each secured to the extremity of the end legs Z of the lazy-tongs, and the head and tail are each secured to opposite ends at the intersection of the end legs Z. The lazy-tongs are actuated by the ellip-v tical spring S, to which the tongs are axially secured, so that the compression of the spring will contract the lazy-tongs, and thereby draw in the members a. through the passages c, as shownin Fig. 3.

The movement of the head, legs, and tail resembles the action of a turtle and is produced by compressing the flexible back by the pressure of the foot. When the pressure is removed, the spiral springs and the elliptical compression-spring distend the back to its normal position and simultaneously the legs, head, and tail project again from the body. These members are loosely secured to the lazy-tongs, so that they are affected by slight pressure upon the turtle-back or accidentally knocking the foot-rest, thereby imparting a slightly oscillating motion which, together with their inward-and-outwardmovement,attracts the attention and excites amusement.

The various features of the foot-rest, its attractive appearance, utility, simplicity, durability, and the amusement it excites contribute in making the foot-rest a desirable article of furniture.

Patent 1. A foot-rest, consisting of a turtle-shaped body, a base upon which the same is supported, a compressible back portion of said body, leg, head and tail members arranged between said base and said body, and means for actuating said leg, head and tail members to move inwardly and outwardly, substantially as set forth.

2. A foot-rest, consisting of a base, a compressible turtle-shaped body, supports arranged at the ends of said base to support said body, passages between said supports, leg, head and tail members adapted to move inwardly and outwardly in said passages, and means for producing the movement of said members, substantially as set forth.

3. A foot-rest, consisting of a base, a compressible turtle-shaped body, a supplemental base therein, spiral springs arranged between the back of said body and said supplemental base, an elliptical compression-spring passing through a slot in said supplemental base, leg, head and tail members, and means connecting said members and said elliptical compression-spring, substantially as set forth.

4. A foot-rest, consisting of a base, a turtle-shaped body having a flexible back, a supplemental base in said body, spiral springs arranged thereon, a transverse slot in said supplemental base, an elliptical compressionspring adapted to operate through the same, leg, head and tail members, and lazy-tongs connecting said members with said elliptical compression-sprin g, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in pres ence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUDWIG WOERNER.

Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, JOSEPH H. NILEs. 

